Sling Product

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention relate to products that may be useful for holding or carrying items, and particularly, an infant. In one embodiment, the product includes a first section, a second section, and at least one ring member. The first section can have a first material and a second material where the second material is stretchable. The at least one ring member can be positioned within the first section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/925,380, filed on Jan. 9, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of baby carriers, and particularly to sling-type baby carriers.

BACKGROUND

Caring for babies can require significant attention of a caregiver on often a 24-hour basis. During times, the caregiver may be required to remain in almost constant contact with the child. This extended contact may require the caregiver to hold the baby, which may provide a sense of security and happiness to the baby. The holding of a baby, for a period of time longer than a few minutes, generally requires the use of both hands and may significantly limit the mobility of the caregiver. Further, the caregiver may fatigue due to the demands placed on the muscles in order to support and securely hold the child.

Different conventional baby carriers have been used to hold a baby including those which hold a baby to a caregiver's chest through a system of straps and harnesses. Sling-type baby carriers have also been used to hold a baby close to a caregiver's chest. Baby seats and/or baby carriages have also been used for the holding of the baby.

These conventional baby-carrying devices often can be inadequate to a caregiver for a number of reasons and concerns. These concerns can include failing to restrict the movement of the baby once properly placed in the carrier, failing to provide adequate support for the baby, restricting movement of the wearer, or causing discomfort of the wearer during use due to movement of the sling product. Often a caregiver must sacrifice some concerns to achieve others.

Thus, various embodiments of the present description are directed at improving a caregiver's experience using a baby carrier by addressing such concerns and others.

SUMMARY

The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention,” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by references to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim.

Described herein are various embodiments of a product for carrying an item. In some embodiments, the product can provide a device for carrying a baby or infant. The product according to embodiments of the present description can provide increased mobility for the wearer, provide increased support of the object being carried, remain in a substantially stationary position once placed on a wearer, and/or reduce the amount of pressure and discomfort on a wearer during use.

In some embodiments, the product comprises a first section, a second section, and at least one ring member. The first section comprises a first material and a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can comprise a stretchable material. The at least one ring member can be positioned within the first section.

In some embodiments, the product comprises a first piece, a second piece, and at least one ring member. The first piece may comprise a first fabric, and the second piece may comprise a second material. The second material can comprise a stretchable material. The second piece can be attached to a portion of the first piece. In some embodiments, the portion of the first piece attached to the second piece defines a shoulder panel of the product.

These illustrative aspects and embodiments are mentioned not to limit or define the invention, but to provide examples to aid understanding of the inventive concepts disclosed in this application. Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent after review of the entire application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view of a product of the invention positioned on a mannequin to illustrate use of the product according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a product according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a first section of a product in an unassembled configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a first section of a product in an unassembled configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a product according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a portion of a product having a removable fabric band according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to baby slings. The illustrative examples are given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed herein and not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts. The following sections describe various additional embodiments and examples with reference to the drawings in which like numerals indicate certain elements of the invention and directional description are used to describe illustrative embodiments but, like the illustrative embodiments, should not be used to limit the present invention.

In some embodiments, the product comprises a first section, a second section, and at least one ring member. The first section comprises a first material and a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can comprise a stretchable material. The at least one ring member can be positioned within the first section. In some embodiments, the first material comprises a first fabric. In some embodiments, the product can be positioned on a human to hold an item, and in some embodiments, the item can be a child.

In some embodiments, in use, the first section comprising the first material and the second material can define a shoulder panel or region that can be positioned on a user's shoulder. In some embodiments, the second material of the first section of the product comprises a stretchable material that allows the first section to mold to the shoulder of the wearer to function as a shoulder panel. When wrapped through at least one ring positioned in the first section, the second section of the product can comprise a sling or pouch for the wearer to carry an item or child. In some embodiments, the product provides a piece or panel of fabric or other supporting material which naturally spreads across a wearer's back without twisting or bunching. The second material can spread across a wearer's back to better distribute the baby's weight, which can increase the wearer's comfort when using the product. In some embodiments, a second material accommodates and/or facilities movements of the wearer.

In some embodiments, the product comprises a first piece, a second piece, and at least one ring member. The first piece comprises a first fabric. The second piece comprises a second material. The second material can comprise a stretchable material. The second piece can be attached to a portion of the first piece. In some embodiments, the portion of the first piece attached to the second piece defines a first section of the product. In certain embodiments, the first section functions as a shoulder panel.

In some embodiments, the first fabric comprises a variety of types of fabric, including but not limited to, natural fiber material (e.g., cotton, linen, silk, or wool), synthetic material, or a blend of natural and synthetic materials. The first fabric can be a substantially non-stretchable fabric that limits the longitudinal or vertical stretching of the fabric. The first fabric can comprise a material with sufficient durability to support a baby or infant.

In some embodiments, the first fabric can be a substantially rectangular shape. In some embodiments, the piece of first fabric can span the entire length of the sling product. In some embodiments, the piece of first fabric can comprise the first section and second section of the product. In some embodiments, the first fabric can have a length of about 60 inches to about 120 inches, and in other embodiments, the first fabric can have a length of about 79 inches to about 96 inches. In some embodiments, the first fabric can have a width of about 22 inches to about 48 inches, and in other embodiments, the first fabric can have a width of about 28 inches to about 34 inches.

In some embodiments, the second material is stretchable. In some embodiments, the second material is more stretchable than the first material. In some embodiments, the second material can be stretched to a certain degree, and recoil when released. In some embodiments, the stretchable material can be stretched to a length or width greater than its resting length or width and recoil or return to its resting length or width when released.

In some embodiments, the second material comprises a stretchable fabric. The stretchable material can comprise spandex or elastane, elastic, or other elastomeric fibers or materials. In some embodiments, the stretchable material can comprise a single, continuous piece of fabric. In other embodiments, the stretchable material can comprise a plurality of discrete, stretchable pieces, for example, strips of elastic materials. The second material can provide greater comfort to a wearer by minimizing any sliding of the sling product on a wearer. In some embodiments, the second material can provide more stationary positioning of the sling product during use.

In some embodiments, the second material can be a substantially rectangular shape. In other embodiments, the second material can be non-rectangularly shaped, for example, a polygonal shape with a narrowed center region like a bow-tie shape or an hour-glass shape. In some rectangular shaped embodiments, the second material can have a length of about 10 inches to about 40 inches, and in some embodiments a length of about 24 inches. In some rectangular shaped embodiments, the second material can have a width of about 22 inches to about 48 inches, and in other embodiments, the second material can have a width of about 28 inches to about 34 inches.

In some embodiments, the second material can be attached to a portion of the first fabric, for example, by a sewing operation. The portion of the first fabric that is attached to the second material can define the first section of the product. In other embodiments, the second material can be attached to the first fabric by other means, such as by adhesives, zippers, fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or other means known to those in the art. The second material can be attached to the first fabric in the first section. In some embodiments, the first section can be positioned near the wearer's shoulder. This first section is also referred to herein as the shoulder panel. In some embodiments, the second material can be sewn to the first fabric around the perimeter of the second material, creating a two-ply fabric sheet in the shoulder panel of the sling product.

In some embodiments, in the first section, the shoulder panel may be narrowed by pleating or gathering the shoulder panel in a middle region of the first section. In some embodiments, the shoulder panel can be pleated by a sewing operation. In other embodiments, the shoulder panel can be gathered or bunched without the aid of threads or a sewing operation. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the narrowed middle region of the shoulder panel at 16. In some embodiments, the first fabric can be pleated or gathered in the narrowed middle region, and the second material not be pleated or gathered in the narrowed middle region. In other embodiments, both the first fabric and the second material can be pleated or gathered in the narrowed middle region. In some embodiments, the first fabric can be gathered by a gathering element. In some embodiments, the gathering element comprises at least one ring.

In some embodiments, the shoulder panel (with the second material being attached to a portion of the first fabric) can be threaded through at least one ring. In some embodiments, the sling product comprises a plurality of rings, and in some embodiments, two rings. In some embodiments, the rings have an inner diameter of about 1.5 inches to about 4 inches, and in some embodiments, an inner diameter of about 2.5 inches to about 3 inches. The rings can comprise metal, nylon, a fabric material, an elastic material, plastic, wood, composite material, rubber, or other material of sufficient strength and durability know to those in the art. In other embodiments, the sling product can include a gathering element such as a buckle, clasp, clip, hook and eye fastener, D rings, or other fastener to achieve the function of the rings. In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 1, the at least one ring can be configured to allow the second section of the product to be wrapped around a portion of the at least one ring so as to create a pouch and divide the second section into a first portion that wraps around the torso of a wearer and a second portion that extends vertically downward along the torso of the wearer.

Upon the shoulder panel being threaded through the plurality of rings, the shoulder panel can be folded back over itself so that the upper and lower edges of the first fabric meet or substantially align with each other. In an embodiment, the second material is positioned in the inside of the fold. Also, in certain embodiments, at least one ring is positioned at the fold, which in some embodiments is the narrowest portion of the shoulder panel. The first section (i.e., the shoulder panel) can then be sewn, or otherwise attached, along the edges of the shoulder panel where the edges meet. In some embodiments, the second material may comprise a plurality of elastic bands traversing across the first fabric, for example, a band positioned at the bottom of the shoulder panel, the middle of the shoulder panel, and the top of the shoulder panel. Some embodiments can provide a sling product which stretches in the transverse direction (via the stretchable second material and the pleated or gathered portions of the first fabric) while providing sufficient strength to avoid stretching in the longitudinal direction of the sling product.

Referring to the Figures, the numbers used within each figure are consistent with every other figure. When a specific feature is labeled in one figure with a specific numeral, the same numeral will be used in other figures when denoting that specific feature.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a sling product 10 positioned on a mannequin to illustrate use of the product as a sling for varying a child or some other object. The sling product 10 includes a fabric panel spanning over a mannequin's shoulder region and around its torso. The sling product 10 includes a plurality of rings 11. When the sling product 10 is positioned on a mannequin (or wearer), a pouch 12 can be formed where a baby or infant may be positioned and carried.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a sling product 10 in a configuration prior to being positioned on a wearer (for example, as shown in the configuration in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, the fabric panel of the sling product 10 may have a first section 13 and a second section 15. The first section 13 is also referred to herein as a shoulder panel. The first section 13 and the second section 15 may meet at a seam 14. In some embodiments, a single, continuous piece of a first fabric may span the length of both the first section 13 and the second section 15. The first section 13 may wrap around the plurality of rings 11 such that the plurality of rings 11 is secured within the first section 13. In some embodiments, the first section 13 is threaded through the plurality of rings 11 and folded back on itself so that edges of the first section 13 line up and are sewn along the edges where each of the two edges meet.

FIG. 3 shows a top view (i.e., the outside layer) of the first section 13 of the sling product prior to the plurality of rings being positioned in the sling product. FIG. 3 shows a first fabric 23 having a first edge 21 and a second edge 22. The narrowed middle region 16 of the first section 13 is shown in a pleated or gathered configuration. The narrowed middle region 16 is the portion of the first section 13 in which the plurality of rings 11 can be positioned upon assembly. The pleated or gathered region narrows the width of the first fabric 23 of the first section 13. The first fabric 23 comprises a cloth fabric. In some embodiments, the first fabric 23 does not substantially stretch.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view (i.e., the inside layer) of the first section 13 of the sling product 10 prior to the plurality of rings 11 being positioned in the sling product. FIG. 4 shows a second material 24 being positioned and sewn to the bottom side of the first fabric 23. The second material 24 is sewn to the first fabric 23 around the perimeter of the second material 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the second material 24 is not sewn to the first fabric 23 in the center portion of the narrowed middle region 16 (shown in FIG. 3). In other embodiments, the second material may be sewn to the first fabric in the middle region or included within the pleats or gathered region of the first fabric. The second material 24 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a second material.

The first section 13 comprising the first fabric 23 and the second material 24 are threaded through a plurality of rings 11 and folded onto itself. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the product. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first section 13 is threaded through the plurality of rings 11 and folded upon itself. Referring back to FIG. 4, the first edge 21 and second edge 22 of the first section 13 are sewn onto themselves after being folded around a plurality of rings 11 at the narrowed middle region 16. Upon being folded onto itself, a third edge 25 is sewn to the first fabric forming seam 14 (for example, as shown in FIG. 2).

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the sling product comprising a removable fabric band 30. The removable fabric band 30 is positioned around the shoulder panel 13. The removable fabric band 30 can adjust the width of the shoulder panel 13 by adjusting the position of the removable fabric band 30 relative to the distance from the plurality of rings 11. In some embodiments, a wearer may prefer to have a wider shoulder panel near the plurality of rings.

The products according to embodiments described herein can comprise many advantages and improvements over the conventional baby carrier products. In some embodiments, the product can provide a shoulder panel that molds to the shoulder of the wearer and accommodates a greater range of movements by the wearer. The product comprising a first fabric and a second material can provide sufficient support for a baby or even a heavy infant while also maintaining positioning of the product upon the wearer's shoulder. In some embodiments, the shoulder panel comprising the second material can mold to a wearer's shoulder and reduce the likelihood of movement of the shoulder panel to the wearer's neck region, particularly as a wearer's arm is raised.

The foregoing description of the embodiments, including illustrated embodiments, of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications, adaptations, and uses thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A product comprising: a first section comprising a first material and a second material, the second material being stretchable; a second section; and at least one ring member positioned within the first section.
 2. The product of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises elastane.
 3. The product of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises an elastomeric fiber.
 4. The product of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a material that is substantially non-stretchable in at least one dimension.
 5. The product of claim 1, wherein the second material is attached to a portion of the first material by fastening the perimeter of the second material to the first material.
 6. The product of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a length that is less than a length of the first material.
 7. The product of claim 1, wherein the first section comprises a narrowed center region.
 8. The product of claim 1, wherein the first section comprises a fold.
 9. The product of claim 8, wherein at least one ring member is position at the fold of the first section.
 10. The product of claim 1, further comprising a removable fabric member that is positioned around the first section.
 11. A product comprising: a first piece comprising a first fabric; a second piece comprising a second material, the second material being stretchable; and at least one ring member, wherein the second piece is attached to a portion of the first piece.
 12. The product of claim 11, wherein the second material comprises elastane.
 13. The product of claim 11, wherein the second material comprises an elastomeric fiber.
 14. The product of claim 11, wherein the first fabric comprises a material that is substantially non-stretchable in at least one dimension.
 15. The product of claim 11, wherein the portion of the first piece attached to the second piece defines a shoulder panel.
 16. The product of claim 15, wherein the at least one ring member is positioned within a fold of the shoulder panel.
 17. The product of claim 15, further comprising a removable fabric member that is positioned around the shoulder panel.
 18. The product of claim 11, wherein the first piece is pleated.
 19. The product of claim 11, wherein the second piece is sewn to the portion of the first piece around the perimeter of the second piece.
 20. The product of claim 11, wherein the product is configured to be positioned on a human to hold a child. 